Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Thursday, March 25, 2010

shakespeare and elder holland

Today in my Shakespeare class we watched part of a clip from a devotional entitled "How Do I Love Thee?" from Elder Holland given back in 2000. We only watched a brief part, where he discusses Othello, because that is the play we're currently discussing. But overall, his devotional is about love, and charity. I was inspired by his words and decided to look up the rest of the devotional. If you have a chance, you should definitely read it. It's very inspiring and eye-opening.

Some of my favorite lines:
The solutions to life's problems are always gospel solutions.

Real love is best shown in the "how"

I suppose no one is as handsome or as beautiful as he or she wishes, or as brilliant in school or as witty in speech or as wealthy as we would like, but in a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can't always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we can command--such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us nothing, and they can mean everything to the one who receives them.

True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves.

If you are just going for pizza or to play a set of tennis, go with anyone who will provide good, clean fun. But if you are serious, or planning to be serious, please find someone who brings out the best in you and is not envious of your success. Find someone who suffers when you suffer and who finds his or her happiness in your own.

Think the best of each other, especially of those you say you love. Assume the good and doubt the bad.

Believe that your faith has everything to do with your romance, because it does. You separate dating from discipleship at your peril.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

thoughts on the future

Honestly, motherhood is not something I've ever really looked forward to. When asked what I want to be, never has my answer been "a mom". I'm not quite sure I can explain it, but only on very rare occasions have I actually been excited about the possibility of being a mother. It's one of those battles I'm constantly waging within myself. However, on my cousin Emily's blog she has been featuring posts about The Proclamation on the Family (see my guest post here). I was reading through them today and part of this post struck me really hard:

"The prophets have called the nurturing of my daughter a sacred responsibility. Indeed, it is not only important, it is the most important thing I will ever do. And while the way I fulfill my responsibility to the world has changed, the importance and impact of what I do has not. In my own quiet way, day by day, I am changing the world by giving myself to my family. I am thankful for my own very capable mother who taught me this by example, and for modern prophets who articulate the principle so beautifully. If I do my job well, I can build people who will also change the world for good. Who will learn that they have a responsibility to those around them. Although I don’t get to travel to distant lands to do my work, what I have to do is more than enough. And that fulfills me."

What great insights! She has alleviated some of my concerns and expressed the purpose and joys of motherhood in such an insightful way. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to constantly be learning and improving myself- especially through the examples of others.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

confession

I am a procrastinator. I am currently sitting on the fourth floor of the library writing a paper that is due in 3 hours. It is supposed to be 8 pages. I have 4 1/2. And I started writing this paper last night. Smart move, I know.

Monday, March 22, 2010

it's about that time

this is about the time of year where i begin to question everything. today in my teaching writing class i began a silent freak-out. what on earth am i doing with my life? i want to be a teacher? a teacher?! what makes me think kids will listen to me or care what i have to say? i don't know enough to be a teacher! (yes, yes- i know that's why i'm in college- beside the point). i don't know anything about teaching! i don't know how to write effective lesson plans, or writing prompts. or how to grade student's papers. how am i supposed to make my students see that writing and reading is important? why is reading and writing important? i've somehow completely lost sight of that. i don't really see a purpose to my future or my future career at least. why should my students read To Kill a Mockingbird? why should they write research papers? i don't know! what am i doing?!

ps- thank you for allowing me to freak out. expressing the thoughts always helps somewhat.

Friday, March 19, 2010

the buzz

isn't this just the cutest picture ever?! I love it.
I love BYU basketball. Just in case you didn't know. Yesterday was quite possibly one of the greatest days of my life. No joke. Yesterday the buzz all over campus was "did you see the game?" and no one needed to question which "game" people were referring to. Ah! 99-92 win in DOUBLE overtime. I thought I was going to have a heart-attack. I couldn't breathe, I was shaking- seriously intense. But with a wonderful, wonderful result. I love Jimmer! GO COUGARS! (Now if we can only beat Kansas St. tomorrow ...)

Friday, March 5, 2010

wow: word of the week

ps- this is where I would rather be: on a beach in the sun

I just learned a new word. I really hate not knowing what a word means so whenever I see a word I don't know I have to look it up.

peripatetic: walking or traveling about
now you're in the know too.

ps- i saw that word in
this awesome article about Kate and Andy Spade. Very interesting. Also, see pictures of their amazing home here.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

the family


My wonderful cousin Emily is doing a series this month on the Proclamation to the Family. She asked me to write a guest post for it. Check it out.